Lev. 12: Clean-up that Afterbirth

Chapter 12 is just about the shortest I've read so far, only a few paragraphs, but it gets right to the point about the regulations of purification after childbirth. Back in Genesis 17, it talks about circumcising the male after 8 days, but no reason was given as to why that was. Here in Leviticus 12, the picture becomes a little clearer. The mother will be considered ceremonially unclean for seven days in the same way she is unclean during her monthly period. This is the first time uncleanness during a visit from Aunt Flo is mentioned. Anyway, after that seven days, the boy can be circumcised, or brought into God's covenant. Following that eighth day, a woman must wait 33 days to be purified from her bleeding. In the case of a daughter, it's 66 days (following a two week period of being ceremonially unclean).

Why are times of uncleanness and purification twice as long with daughters as it is with sons? Is it more phallocentricity typical of the Bible? Is it a time of protection? To whom and from whom? Is it psychological, in that the girl needs longer to bond with the mother than the boy? I am left with only speculation at this point in my reading.

I would suggest that this time of "uncleanness" and "purification" is probably at the very least medical. With a great loss of blood comes a greater chance of infection (you'll recall that Eve, and by extension woman, was told, "with pain you will give birth to children"). I'm no gynecologist, despite popular accounts to the contrary, but mom probably, practically, just needs time to rest and recuperate. You know, avoid heavy lifting and above all, rest.

After all the time of purification is over, offerings had to be made. Both a burnt offering (via a lamb) and a sin offering (young dove or pigeon). It is after this offering and atonement is made by the priest that the woman is clean again. Is one of these offerings made for the baby? I would wonder that if this is so, then perhaps that is evidence for pre-natal sin? An unauthorized blood covering...Perhaps.